Part 18
Alistair reached for a remote control on his lap and pressed a button.
A hidden projector lowered from the glass ceiling, displaying a live feed of the London Stock Exchange.
"You think you stabilized Vale International by securing those European shipping routes," Alistair murmured.
"But you failed to look at your primary copper suppliers in Chile."
"As of ten minutes ago, my subsidiaries purchased the entire national output of Chilean copper for the next three years."
"Your electronics and manufacturing divisions require that specific grade of metal to fulfill your contracts with the US Department of Defense."
"Without it, Vale International will default on its federal obligations by next Tuesday."
He leaned back, his pale eyes gleaming with triumph.
"The penalty for defaulting on a defense contract is the immediate federalization of your assets."
"Your company will be broken up, sold to the highest bidder—which will be me."
"Thomas was just a distraction, a tool to keep your eyes focused on your bedroom while I bought the ground beneath your feet."
I stood there, looking at the crashing charts on the screen.
The red lines were steep, indicating a massive supply chain panic that was already beginning to ripple through our manufacturing sector.
Alistair expected me to drop to my knees. He expected me to beg for a joint venture, to offer him a seat on my board.
Instead, I let out a soft, melodic laugh that caught him completely off guard.
"What is so amusing, Victoria?" he growled, his smile vanishing.
"I'm laughing because my father always told me that old men are obsessed with old commodities," I said, stepping closer to his wheelchair.
"Copper? You spent twelve billion dollars to corner the market on copper?"
"Did you really think I didn't know about your move in Chile?"
I pulled out my own phone and activated a secure video link, turning the screen to face him.
The screen showed a massive, state-of-the-art laboratory located in Germany, where scientists were testing a glowing, synthetic material.
"Six months ago, before my father died, he funded a secret research facility in Munich," I explained, my voice filled with pride.
"We perfected Graphene-2, a synthetic polymer that conducts electricity three times faster than copper at a fraction of the cost."
"Yesterday, the Department of Defense approved the materials transition clause."
May you like
"We don't need your Chilean copper, Alistair. We never did."
"You just spent twelve billion dollars to buy a mountain of useless red dirt."
